Managing Asthma in Children

Effectively managing your child’s asthma symptoms can help curb the condition from becoming a chronic feature in their life.

Asthma is one of the most chronic disorders during childhood, and it impacts millions of children the world over. If proper care is not taken, this lung disease can even be a life-threatening condition.

Asthma is characterized by extreme sensitivity of the lungs to a variety of stimuli. If your child has asthma, it can be an overwhelming experience for you. Having this disease also often prevents children from participating in many activities that are regular for children, such as sports. However, proper management of the symptoms and the right treatment can help you control the symptoms of this disease and enable your child to fight asthma better.

The optimal treatment of asthma in children depends upon a range of factors, including the age of the child, the severity and rate of asthma attacks, and the ability to use the medications prescribed to him or her. In addition to regular doctor consultations and treatment, these tips can help you manage your child’s symptoms better and lessen his or her discomfort.

Learn about the disease and its symptoms

This is the most vital step as the more you know about asthma, the more well-equipped you will be to handle the symptoms or attacks in your child. Talk to your doctor, help groups, parents of other children with asthma, and research extensively to understand the purpose of treatment and the things to be done in times of need. Learn about:

The different types of asthma and the specific medication for each

How the medicine works

How to recognize the signs of worsening asthma

What to do when your child gets an asthma attack

Try to find out what steps you need to take on a daily, weekly, and annual basis to control the symptoms. Ensure that the caretakers, including your child’s school and family members, know these steps too in order to avoid any desperate situations.

Write down the action plan

A written plan always works better in organizing and managing, and it is the same with handing asthma symptoms in your child. Take the help of the pediatrician and create a written action plan that lists down the steps required to deal with your child’s condition. You can also provide copies of this plan to other people with whom your child spends time, so that it is easier for everyone to refer to a guide, should the need arise. This plan can help you in many ways, including the following:

Tracking the frequency of your child’s asthma flare-ups

Noticing which medicines are helping the most

Detecting the side effects of medication, if any

Adjusting the medication when symptoms get worse

Knowing when to seek emergency care or see a doctor

A number of asthma plans use a ‘stoplight’ tool to help people identify the signs of an asthma attack and the severity of the disease in a patient. In this system, the plan uses green, yellow, and red zones (similar to a stoplight) to categorize various signs and symptoms of the chronic disease. You can keep copies of this stoplight chart in your home, workplace, and at your child’s school or daycare center.

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